miƩrcoles, 9 de julio de 2008

How to Tell if You Have Pre-Diabetes


While diabetes and pre-diabetes occur in people of all ages and races, some groups have a higher risk for developing the disease than others.
Diabetes is more common in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, as well as the aged population.
This means they are also at increased risk for developing pre-diabetes.

There are two different tests your doctor can use to determine whether you have pre-diabetes: the fasting plasma glucose test (FPG) or the oral glucose
tolerance test (OGTT). The blood glucose levels measured after these tests determine whether you have a normal metabolism, or whether
you have pre-diabetes or diabetes. If your blood glucose level is abnormal following the FPG, you have impaired fasting glucose (IFG); if your
blood glucose level is abnormal following the OGTT, you have impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).

There are many sites with valuable information for people about diabetes disease, but one of the best I have found is
This interesting free site have plenty of information and recommendations how to discover your pre-diabetes and/or how to prevent it.

It's impressive how the latest statistics showed an increasing of diabetes in american people. The most important,it is that many and many of these new diabetics actually ignore that they are sick and do not do anything to stop or prevent the disease. That's why you should take a few minutes of your life
to visit this site and read it carefully. It's your wellness, your health.


Could You Have Diabetic Neuropathy and Not Know It?



Nerves send messages to and from your brain about pain, temperature, and touch. They tell your

muscles when and how to move. About half of all people with diabetes have some form of nerve

damage

.
The most common type of nerve damage from diabetes called peripheral (puh-RIF-uh-rul)

neuropathy can cause tingling, pain, numbness, or weakness in your feet and hands.






Symptoms


Reporting symptoms to your health care provider is important. Place a check mark (4) next to any symptom you have. Take this list to your next office visit.

o I don’t feel pain in my feet, even when I have blisters or injuries.
o I can’t feel my feet when I’m walking.
o The muscles in my feet and legs are weak.
o I’m unsteady when I stand or walk.
o I have trouble feeling heat or cold in my feet or hands.
o I have open sores (also called ulcers) on my feet and legs. These sores heal very slowly.
o It seems like the muscles and bones in my feet have changed shape.

o Other symptoms I have:
o My feet tingle.
o I feel “pins and needles” in my feet.
o I have burning, stabbing, or shooting pains in my feet.
o My feet are very sensitive to touch. For example, sometimes it hurts to have the bed covers touch my feet.
o My feet hurt at night.
o My feet and hands get very cold or very hot.
o My feet are numb and feel dead.

Treatment
Talk with your health care provider about treatments available to relieve pain and reduce burning,
tingling, and numbness.



For more information on diabetes contact
the American Diabetes Association at
1-800-DIABETES or visit www.diabetes.org
Supported by an unrestricted educational grant from www.diabetes.org